I Hate My Varicose Veins!

So many men and women say this when they visit our clinic for pain relief.  

In varicose veins, the valves do not function properly, allowing blood to remain in the vein. Pooling of blood in a vein causes it to enlarge. This process usually occurs in the veins of the legs, although it may occur elsewhere. Varicose veins are common, affecting mostly women, however an increasing number of men are coming forward asking for treatment. 

Causes:

• congenitally defective valves
• pregnancy 
• thrombophlebitis 
• occupations such as teachers, traffic police, food servers, hairdresser, etc.  

Primary varicose veins occur because of congenitally defective valves, or without a known cause. Secondary varicose veins occur because of another condition, such as when a pregnant woman develops varicose veins.




Symptoms:

• heaviness, aching pain in the legs  


• visible, enlarged veins 


• mild swelling of ankles 


• brown discoloration at the ankles 


• skin ulcers near the medial malleolus

Tips for Avoiding or Helping Varicose Veins: 

• Wear compression stockings.  There are so many to choose from today and not as unsightly as in the 'old days'.


• Exercise regularly to increase circulation and to allow blood to move freely through your legs.


• Elevate your legs when resting as much as possible.


• Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time.


• Avoid wearing tight clothes, especially at the waist.  

Some Natural Remedies for Discomfort:

• Carrot juice and spinach juice in 300ml : 200ml proportion is good for varicose veins.


• Massage rosemary oil onto affected parts.


• Taking an Epsom salt bath at least twice a week has been found to benefit the condition. Natural remedies for varicose veins like this one provides instant relief from associated discomfort.


• Another one of the natural remedies for varicose veins that have been proved to be effective is the application of essential oils. 12 drops of cypress and other essential oils are added to 4 ounces of a carrier oil like almond oil and applied to affected areas in upward strokes.


• One of the most effective natural remedies for varicose veins is preparing a mixture of 2 cups of calendula flowers, leaves and stem in melted lard. After a period of 24 hours this mixture is heated and strained. Application of this strained liquid over affected areas would provide relief.

Mild forms of exercise, yoga and deep breathing routines are also helpful for varicose veins. Try these natural remedies and you may find relief.


Call Andrew Subieta for a consultation and ask how we do at Osteoklinika!  905.660.8810 or visit our website at www.osteoklinika.com for more information.  

HIRING NOW! Osteopathic Manual Practitioner (DOMP) at Osteoklinika

The successful applicant should possess excellent communication skills, a desire to further build their own practice, and have a desire to work with a varied case load. Your skill set must include training in Osteopathy in the cranial field, plus bio-dynamics phases.  The applicant must also be comfortable with a varied list including acute injuries, stress induced health problems, chronic illness and much more! 

At Osteoklinika we offer multiple rehabilitation services and as such the applicant should enjoy being part of the dynamic team, willing to do what it takes to build a great practice.  This is an excellent business opportunity to build your practice in a very nice community. 

If you are looking for a good environment to build your business and also be a part of our business, with an option for full-time or part-time, Osteoklinika is the right place for you!  There will be a 3 month trial period, during which time both parties will have an opportunity to evaluate the status of the position.  The contract may be extended if all parties are amenable to the terms of renewal following the fulfillment of the original contract. 

 

If this sounds exciting and seems a great opportunity to bring or start your practice, please email to arrange a meeting and discuss in more detail.  Also feel free to look at our website for more information. Your academic and other relevant references will be required.  - Andrew Subieta M.Sc., R.M.T. C.L.T. (Manual Osteopathic Practitioner)

www.osteoklinika.com or andrewsubieta@hotmail.com or 905.660.8810 to apply!

Osteopathy is What You Can Do For Back Pain!

There are many different causes of back pain, and almost any segment of the spine can be damaged and give rise to pain. Disorders of other parts of the body, particularly the lungs, kidneys and female reproductive organs can also cause backache. Dr Guy Ashburner (on behalf of the osteopathic profession) describes an osteopathic approach to treating this common condition.

DIAGNOSIS

Since pain anywhere in the back can be a symptom of a serious disorder, it is important to have an idea of what might be causing your pain, so that you can decide what action to take. Without a diagnosis, effectiveness and safety come into question. This is an important point to note when seeing any therapist or health professional.

The keystone to osteopathic management is diagnosis. Osteopaths offer not only a diagnosis but also the reasons why symptoms started (unless blatantly obvious) and why the pain has kept recurring over a number of years. The length of the initial evaluation allows the osteopath to make such specific diagnosis.

HOLISTIC PRACTICE

Osteopathy uses a holistic approach to aches and pains. Holistic means that as an osteopath one considers all factors past and present that have had or are having an effect on that patient. This should include psychosocial, spiritual and physical factors. Continuous emotional or psychological stress can produce functional changes in the body, which become structural if they are perpetuated. Osteopaths take a holistic approach with evaluation and treatment. They don’t simply treat the part that hurts, but look at the whole picture.

Holistic does not mean that one has to treat from head to toe, or that one has to use many types of treatment to achieve one’s aim.

In contrast to a holistic approach allopathic medicine takes a reductionist approach to the management of back pain. A reductionist approach zones in on the symptomatic area (there’s the pain rub it, stretch it, ultrasound it, etc.). This approach addresses a part but not the whole of a specific problem.

OSTEOPATHIC PRINCIPLES IN MANAGING BACK PAIN

These are an integral part of the overall evaluation and management of every patient.

The body is a unit. As the osteopath approaches the diagnosis of the patient’s condition, the unity of the body should be kept in mind. It is never good practice to isolate the focus of the examination to a single body part, even though the symptom may seem related to only one area. A clear example is lower back pain. Pain in the lower back may be predisposed to or maintained by flat feet, dysfunction of the knee or hip, sacro-iliac joint dysfunction, pelvic imbalance, muscle imbalances anywhere in the body, or restrictions of the upper back, essentially postural imbalance that has caused compensation from the feet to the head. The osteopath must consider all facets of interrelatedness of the body.

Structure and function are interrelated. The osteopath must recognise that an abnormal structure is likely to result in abnormal functioning of that body part. Likewise, longstanding abnormal function will eventually affect the structure involved by creating a compensatory position or motion pattern, changes in the structure itself, or stresses on the structure that will result in a breakdown of tissue. A treatment plan must focus on improving the structure and function of the patient to the nearest normal possible for that patient, even when those restrictions found do not seem to be related to the problem at hand. The musculoskeletal system is the osteopath’s route to the treatment of many conditions both of that system and other systems connected to it by the nervous and circulatory systems.

The body is self-regulating and self-healing. The osteopath will use the body’s ability to repair and maintain itself. It is then the role of the osteopath to know when and where to intervene to assist the body in its healing process. Osteopathic considerations in doing so include:

• Maintaining good circulation to involved body parts.
• Treating all restrictions that interfere with motion of any body part or mobility of the patient in general.
• Removing any sources of pain or discomfort that are treatable manually.
• Preventing dysfunction of spinal segments that may send inappropriate feedback to involved structures through the nervous system.

CASE HISTORY

A detailed case history is taken starting with details of the patient’s symptoms, as well as when and how they began. If you are unaware of how your pains started be assured that the osteopath will usually reveal these reasons through analysis of your medical history and physical examination.

EXAMINATION

Following a careful history (which includes viewing any relevant medical reports) a physical examination is begun of all of the areas the osteopath deems relevant for the individual patient. An osteopathic evaluation is done of the body’s biomechanics, namely structure, posture and physical movements.

In the case of lower back pain an osteopath will examine the whole spine, pelvis, hips, knees, ankles and feet, with orthopaedic testing of these structures. This will be followed by neurological tests. Other clinical examinations may include the respiratory and cardiovascular systems where relevant. Examination leads to diagnosis.

Diagnosis, clinical findings and an appropriate treatment plan with projected recovery will be explained and discussed.

TREATMENT

The aim of osteopathy is to correct problems in the body frame, making it easier for the body to function normally and reducing the chance of problems occurring in the future. It is a ‘hands-on’ therapy that restores the normal structure of the musculoskeletal system, which in turn improves the function of the nervous, circulatory and immune systems and allows for faster healing and reduced pain, congestion and restriction within the body. Hands-on treatment ranges from very subtle techniques used for babies through to more robust techniques for athletes.

Osteopathic management of back pain should include advice on the following.

Posture

Posture is a vital part of our health. In fact without good posture our health and in particular our back health will suffer.

Sitting posture

As most working people are sedentary, correct sitting posture is essential. Correct work station setup is an important part of spinal health.

Hard/firm chairs with a gap at the base of the backrest for one’s bottom to fit through are the best option. Soft seats or sitting reading on a soft bed are the worst options and can contribute significantly to back pain. The best practice for sitting posture is as follows: as you sit bend forward halfway, then wriggle back in your seat as far as possible until you can’t move back further. Then sit up. Your back is now nicely supported and you should have a normal concave curvature to your lumbar spine. If you don’t sit in this position during your working day you will almost be guaranteed back pain now or at a later date.

In your car try the posture described above, and move your seat closer to the steering wheel. This will help those who spend a lot of time driving.

Standing Posture

When standing, try to balance in a neutral position so that your weight is distributed on both legs, rather than on just one leg. Then grab hold of your hair on top of your head quite hard. This will bring you into an optimal standing posture, much like our hunter-gatherer ancestors viewing the horizon for danger. Maintain this posture for a couple of months and your nervous system will get used to it and it will eventually become habitual.

Proper Hydration

Believe it or not water is vital for back health. We are made of 67% water. The more dehydrated you are the faster your back will degenerate. Spinal discs are hydrophilic and absorb water especially when the spine is not loaded, for example as we sleep, lying down. Muscles need to be well hydrated otherwise dehydration will cause shortening of muscle fibres resulting in compression and restriction of spinal joints. So drink plenty of water and avoid diuretics such as coffee and tea.

Aerobic Exercise

Take regular aerobic exercise. The more inactive you are the stiffer and more problematic your back will be. Good aerobic options are the step machine (remember not to hold onto the hand rails as in the real world there are none on the mountain and you will get a better workout), cycling, swimming, walking and running depending on your level of fitness and the state of your back. If you have a bad back avoid the cross trainer as this will only aggravate your lumbar spinal joints if they are already under strain.

Stretching

Always stretch after 5 – 15 minutes of aerobic exercise. Warm muscles are more pliable than cold ones. So if you want better results warm your muscles before your stretches or yoga class. Don’t stretch everything – it will be more productive to stretch what is necessary as recommended by your osteopath. For instance the buttock muscles have a very close relationship with your back. The tighter they are the more problematic your back will be. When you stretch ensure that you feel no more than mild tension, and no pain. The more flexible your muscles are the less pain you should experience. There is a definite correlation between short hamstrings and increased episodes of back pain.

CONCLUSION

In order to maximize recovery, prevent recurrence and fit each person’s schedule, osteopathic advice and treatment are tailored to the individual. - NATURAL MEDICINE magazine

At Osteoklinika our goal is not only to relieve pain but to treat pathological changes that occur in the tissues of the body that led to discomfort, inflammation and restricted range of motion. This approach addresses many musculoskeletal conditions down to the cellular level, therefore speeding up recovery. We call it the method of #Bio-Structural Integration ™.  Our objective is to find the source of the problem, correct it and allow the body to return to a normal physiological balance and this can occur at any age!  It is not too late to turn it around!  Please call me at 905.660.8810 or visit my website at www.osteoklinika.com. - Andrew Subieta, M.Sc. R.M.T. C.L.T.

Sciatica is NOT a Condition or Diagnosis!

The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest of all the body’s nerves. It runs from the spinal column through the pelvis and down each leg. Each sciatic nerve is made up of five smaller nerves that branch into the thigh, knee, calf, ankle, and foot. Sciatica occurs when this nerve is compressed, irritated, or inflamed.

Sciatica is not a condition or a diagnosis, rather it is a term used to describe the symptoms of leg pain and possibly tingling, numbness or weakness that travels from the low back through the buttock and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of the leg. The pain may be anything from a dull ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock.

Because the sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, pressure can be placed on it at many locations. Disc bulges can place pressure on the sciatic nerve in the back and cause low back pain and sciatica. The piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttocks, can become too tight and put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Pressure from the piriformis muscle usually causes sciatica that starts in the buttock or upper thigh. A misalignment of the lumbar vertebrae in the low back can put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Finally, spinal degeneration from long-standing back problems can also put pressure on and irritate the sciatic nerve.

How can Osteopathy help?

Since there are many disorders that can cause Sciatica, an Osteopath will investigate the exact cause of sciatic nerve symptoms by taking a thorough case history, followed by relevant spinal, orthopaedic and neurological examination to establish an accurate diagnoses. Referral for diagnostic imaging such as X-ray, CT or MRI may be necessary.

As Sciatica is due to pressure on the sciatic nerve, treatment involves removing this pressure, in order to reduce symptoms and help resolve the problem. Osteopathic treatment aims to decrease nerve pressure and associated inflammation by focusing treatment on poorly moving spinal joints, body compensatory patterns and easing muscular tension in the spine, buttock, hip and leg. Osteopathic techniques and management strategies are dependent on each individual case.  (Reprinted from Osteopathy and Good Health.)

At Osteoklinika our goal is not only to relieve pain but to treat pathological changes that occur in the tissues of the body that led to discomfort, inflammation and restricted range of motion. This approach addresses many musculoskeletal conditions down to the cellular level, therefore speeding up recovery. We call it the method of Bio-Structural Integration™.  Our objective is to find the source of the problem, correct it and allow the body to return to a normal physiological balance and this can occur at any age!  It is not too late to turn it around!  Please call me at 905.660.8810 or visit my website at www.osteoklinika.com. - Andrew Subieta, M.Sc. R.M.T. C.L.T.

Athletes Now Use the Osteopath’s Unique Skills in the Treatment of Sports Injuries

Athletes Use the Osteopath's Unique Skills!

Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment that is concerned primarily with mechanical problems of the body framework. These are principally within the musculoskeletal system. However, disturbance in the viscera may cause secondary changes within the muscles and joints. 

 The aims of osteopathic diagnosis are two-fold: 

 1. To identify the site of the source of the symptoms and the nature of the tissue disturbance. 

 2. To assess the mechanical structure and function of the body. 

Athletes now use the osteopath’s unique skills and detailed knowledge of body mechanics in the treatment of sports injuries. 

Kiante Tripp, Toronto Argonauts with Andrew Subieta, Osteoklinika

In the past, an injury was regarded as an isolated problem, to carry out the most effective treatment, the osteopath accesses all of the factors which may have led up to and contributed to the injury which are often just as important as the injury. 

The osteopath can examine the posture, condition and flexibility of those parts, which make the human body a dynamic machine - these include the muscles, ligaments and tendons of all joints from head to toe. This is of utmost importance to an athlete as poor flexibility in the joints will prevent the body performing at its best and is often an important contributory element to injury. 

The techniques applied by the osteopath provides the body with the best environment for repair, and enables it to perform at its optimum. 

We have experience and positive results with elite athletes in Canada! Call to arrange a consultation to optimize your ongoing success!  905.660.8810. - Andrew Subieta

For more information about how we can assist you to maximize performance on-season or off-season, Andrew Subieta and the clinic staff can be reached at Osteoklinika Pain Management & Rehabilitation 905.660.8810. Also, please check our website www.osteoklinika.com and our social media on Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn for more information about Bio-Structural Integration™.  

Cranial Osteopathy: A Gentle Treatment For Pain

What is Cranial Osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy (also called cranial therapy or cranio-sacral therapy) is one variety of osteopathic manipulative therapies. It stimulates healing by using gentle hand pressure to manipulate the skeleton and connective tissues, especially the skull and sacrum (the large, triangular bone at the base of the spinal column). Cranial osteopathy is based on the controversial theory that the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, has subtle, rhythmic pulsations that are vital to health and can be detected and modified by a skilled practitioner.

What conditions is cranial osteopathy used for?

• constipation
• irritable bowel syndrome
• seizures
• scoliosis
• migraine headaches
• disturbed sleep cycles
• asthma
• neck pain
• sinus infections
• TMJ syndrome
• Ménière's disease
• ear problems
• children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who have experienced birth trauma or head trauma.

While cranial osteopathy therapy has not been shown scientifically to be a treatment for cancer, it can help patients feel more relaxed by helping to relieve stress and tension.

What should one expect from a visit to a practitioner of cranial osteopathy therapy?

During a typical session, you may be asked first about your history of injuries and the circumstances of your birth, in addition to the usual questions about your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle habits. As part of the physical exam, the practitioner may move your limbs and feel your spine, rib cage and cranium for areas of restricted motion. Treatment includes gentle hands-on manipulation of the cranial bones and the sacrum (tailbone), as well as other restricted areas of the body. The practitioner may use additional manipulation techniques as well, for example, to relax muscles around the joints and spine. The overall effect of a treatment session can be very calming. Some patients report pleasant tingling sensation throughout their bodies during treatment.

Practitioners of cranial osteopathy use their hands to gently free up restrictions in the movement of cranial bones and associated soft tissues and to stimulate the flow of the cerebro-spinal fluid, which bathes all the surfaces of the brain and the spinal cord.

Practitioners believe that distortions in the natural rhythms of the central nervous system may result from trauma of all sorts including birth trauma, childhood injuries, automobile accidents, even psychological trauma. (For years, mainstream medicine dismissed the idea - put forth in the 1930's by osteopath William Sutherland - that the cranial bones in the adult skull could move.

However, researchers at Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic medicine confirmed Sutherland's theory in the late 1970's by showing cranial bone motion in X-ray films of the skulls of living subjects.)

Are there other therapies that might work well in conjunction with cranial osteopathy therapy?

Cranial osteopathy therapy can work as an adjunct to other medical, dental, osteopathic, and chiropractic treatments. Cranial osteopathy offers a gentle treatment for pain in patients undergoing other kinds of therapy who are too acutely sensitive to tolerate other hands-on approaches.

Dr. Andrew Weil encountered cranial osteopathy when he met Dr. Robert Fulford, an osteopath who relied on manipulation alone for treating a variety of diseases. Dr. Weil has described Dr. Fulford as a skilled practitioner of cranial osteopathy who could detect subtle movements within the central nervous system and its associated structures through gentle palpation of the cranial bones. Dr. Weil continues to recommend cranial osteopathy therapy for many conditions including colic in babies, earaches and hyperactivity in children, for infants who are not sucking well during breast feeding, and following a difficult delivery to make certain the bones and soft tissues of the infant's head are in proper alignment (treatment frees up restrictions in movement and promotes normal functioning of the nervous system, as well as optimal flow of blood and lymph). He also recommends cranial osteopathy for treatment of migraine headaches, disturbed sleep cycles, asthma, neck pain, sinus infections, TMJ syndrome, Ménière's disease and ear problems in adults. For more information about cranial osteopathy, we recommend reading Dr. Fulford's Touch of Life (Pocket Books, 1997).

At Osteoklinika we view the healthy body as a system of structure and physiological function dynamically interacting with each other in an undisturbed manner. When the structure is affected the function of many systems of the body is changed resulting in pain, inflammation and restricted range of motion. Our objective is to find the source of the problem, correct it and allow the body to return to a normal physiological balance. We call this Bio-Structural Integration™. - Andrew Subieta M.Sc. R.M.T., C.L.T.

Osteoklinika Pain Management and Rehabilitation
1750 Steeles Ave, W. Unit 8
Vaughan, Ontario  L4K 2L7
905.660.8810

Rheumatoid Arthritis - What Doctors Don't Tell You!

When I first wrote about rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I reported that wearing copper bracelets, correcting low gastric acid, identifying environmental and food allergies, and eating at least one avocado pear a day had proven benefits.

Since then, much more evidence has come to light of alternative remedies that may be highly beneficial to sufferers of this condition.

Homoeopathy Paloondo, a plant found in Mexico and Southern California, was used by the Aztecs for inflammatory rheumatoid-arthritic conditions and has been found to be useful for RA in homoeopathic potencies. Euretin and Paloon-don-Dragées, two patented medicines made in Austria and licensed in the European Union, have shown evidence of success.

Paloondon-Dragées has undergone a placebo-controlled Hahnemannian proving - the basic homoeopathic experiment in which a remedy is tested to determine whether it can produce the symptoms it is meant to cure - and was indeed found to produce arthromuscular rheumatism (Homoeother rheumatisch Leiden Paloondo, 1970, 6: 241-5.)

Nutritional therapy Bromelain, an enzyme obtained from the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus), can be effective in reducing the amount of inflammation associated with RA and the dose of steroids needed to manage it.

Twenty-five patients with stage II or III RA were able to taper their steroid dosages down to small maintenance doses of enteric-coated bromelain. Joint swelling was also substantially reduced in most patients (Penn Med J, 1964, 67: 27-30).

Ayurvedic medicine This Indian system of medicine has long used the yellow pigment - called curcumin - derived from the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa) to treat joint inflammation.

In one double-blind study, RA patients were given either curcumin or phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Those taking the turmeric showed similar improvements in duration of morning stiffness, walking and joint swelling compared with those taking the NSAID, but without the substantial side-effects usually seen with the drug (Ind J Med Res, 1980; 71: 632-4).
Chinese medicine Two experimental studies have shown that the root of the Chinese medicinal herb Lei gong teng (Tripterygium wilfordii) is usually effective to some degree for both RA and ankylosing spondylitis (J Trad Chin Med, 1983, 3: 125-9; Chin Med J, 1989, 102: 327-32).
Herbal medicine A herbal remedy made from the Yucca plant has also been shown to be helpful in easing the symptoms of RA.

In an American study involving Desert Pride Herbal Food Tablets (containing Yucca plant saponin extract), 149 RA patients were given either the Yucca saponin extract or placebo for one week to 15 months. At the end of the trial, 61 per cent had less pain, swelling and stiffness compared with 22 per cent of those taking the placebo. Some improved within days or weeks whereas some took several months or more (J Appl Nutr, 1975; 27: 45-50).

Osteopathy

Good osteopathic care can modify the course of RA and even bring about a remission. Once the acute inflammation has subsided, this should include heat, friction, hot wetpacks, stretching, yoga, exercise, support and careful passive articulation of the affected joints (Br J Gen Pract, 1993: 15-8).

Dietary therapy

A Norwegian study showed that a change to a vegetarian diet normalised dietary fatty acids and reduced the inflammation seen in RA.

The patients were allowed to consume only vegetable soups, vegetable juices, garlic and herbal teas for the first 10 days. Thereafter, the diet was gluten-free, and meat was allowed only sparingly on every second day. For the first three months, citrus, salt, refined sugar, tea, coffee, cocoa, cola, strong spices, alcohol, milk and milk products were strictly forbidden (Bartram T, Bartram’s Encyclopaedia of Herbal Medicine, London: Robinson Publishing, 1998: 372).

(Harald Gaier is a Registered homeopath, naturopath and osteopath)

At Osteoklinika our goal is not only to relieve pain but to treat pathological changes that occur in the tissues of the body that led to discomfort, inflammation and restricted range of motion. This approach addresses many musculoskeletal conditions down to the cellular level, therefore speeding up recovery. We call it the method of Bio-Structural Integration™.  Our objective is to find the source of the problem, correct it and allow the body to return to a normal physiological balance and this can occur at any age!  It is not too late to turn it around!  Please call me at 905.660.8810 or visit my website at www.osteoklinika.com. - Andrew Subieta, M.Sc. R.M.T. C.L.T.